Chipotle Adds Chorizo to Its Menu

Restaurants in six cities can taste it now, but it'll roll out to all locations by fall.

If you’ve exhausted all variations of burrito bowls and you don’t think you’ll be able to look at another half-barbacoa, half-carnitas again, you’ll shed tears of joy at Chipotle’s new menu item: It's just added chorizo to its protein roster in six cities — and the rest of the locations should carry it by fall.

The chorizo is a chicken and pork sausage that's got some kick from paprika, toasted cumin, and chipotle peppers. It's made from "animals that are raised in more humane ways and without the use of antibiotics or added hormones," like their other meats. The move is undoubtedly an effort to reclaim customers lost to the company's recent food safety issues and declining popularity.

The lucky cities that are getting chorizo now are: Columbus, Ohio; Manhattan, New York City; and Sacramento and San Diego, California. One restaurant in Denver, Colorado, as well as the location in the Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., are also getting it.

In tandem with the new item (their latest since the 2014 introduction of the vegan sofritas), Chipotle has instituted a customer loyalty program called Chiptopia to encourage customers to rack up the points in exchange for free meals and swag.